His throwing error in the second inning of Thursday afternoon's win over Oakland allowed a runner to score and ended the Tribe starters' string of scoreless innings pitched at 44-1/3. Laffey went on to work seven innings in a 4-2 victory, Cleveland's eighth in 10 games.Don't look now, but the Indians are in first place.
Laffey, who has taken over the fifth starter spot in place of the injured Jake Westbrook, now sports a 1.35 ERA to go along with a 2-2 record. Westbrook was 1-2, 2.73 before his injury.
Cleveland's starting pitching of late has been magnificent. We've talked about Cliff Lee (6-0, 0.67 ERA) and Fausto Carmona (4-1, 2.40). Paul Byrd's ERA is 3.61, and C.C. Sabathia, following early season struggles, has allowed just one run over 16 innings in his last two starts, striking out 20 along the way.
The scoreless innings streak was the Indians' longest by a starting staff since the Tribe foursome of Bob Lemon, Satchel Paige, Gene Bearden and Sam Zoldak hurled 47 straight in 1948. And it's the longest in baseball in over 30 years, since the Orioles' staff tossed 54 in a row in 1974. Pretty heady stuff.
The Indians' climb into first place proves the old theory: In baseball, pitching wins championships. Cleveland is dead last in the American League in team hitting, at .236. But they're first in team ERA, at 3.26. Detroit, meanwhile, is in last place in the division, despite being tied for 5th in the league with a .262 team batting average. That's because their team ERA of 5.05 is at the bottom of the charts.
If the Tribe's bats come alive, and their relievers settle in, and someone steps up to claim the closer role, the team will be a force to be reckoned with. For now, thank the starters for their recent rise to prominence.
And, in Browns' Town...
About time I chimed in on the Browns, bumped as they are from the headlines at this time of year.
Lots of excited chatter going on as the 2008 season approaches. Experts are predicting big things -- including a first place finish in the AFC North, according to some. The TV networks have come a-calling and the Browns will make a splash on the prime time scene in a major way this fall, for the first time since their return to the league in 1999.So why not make Brady Quinn the quarterback? At least, that's what some fans have been asking.
Two words: Steve Young.
You know, the Hall of Fame quarterback from the 49ers. Super Bowl champion. Seven-time All-Pro.
Well, Steve wasn't so young when he took over as the 49ers QB in 1991. What was he, 26? 28, maybe?
Try 30. After a couple of seasons in the USFL, Young joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1985, at age 24. He started for them the following year, then winged his way to San Fran for what would turn out to be a 13-year ride.
Of course, Joe Montana was in his heyday at the helm of the 49ers when Young arrived, so he had to bide his time. For four years. By the time he cracked the starting lineup, he was 30. And it wasn't until the following year, when he was 31, that he began the string of seven sterling seasons that would earn him a spot in Canton.
The moral of the story is simple. There's plenty of time for Brady Quinn to develop, learn the game, and one day earn his shot. He's only 23. Time is on his side.
In the meantime, the Browns are doing the right thing by sticking with Derek Anderson, to see if last year was the real thing or a fluke. Either way, they're in great shape. If Anderson continues to shine, it's a good thing. If he struggles, then Quinn's opportunity will come.
Where there's smoke...
Finally, here's a vote for ending the pregame pyrotechnics in NBA arenas. Cleveland's Ben Wallace and Delonte West retreated to the locker room rather than having to endure the aftermath of the controlled detonations that occurred prior to Wednesday's game in Boston. Wallace didn't want to risk another dizzy spell, and West has been bothered by an eye infection.
Marketing is a fact of life in pro sports, but some things go way beyond the extreme. This is one. Games actually get underway with a cloud of smoke in the air. That's ridiculous, and the league ought to bring it to a halt.
4 comments:
I agree, stick with DA at quarterback. Quinn should be good but DA deserves to keep the job.
As for the NBA. They should turn down the stupid sound systems at those games. Ruins the whole thing.
FINALLY, Browns talk! OK, I grew up in an era when we were raised to root for the browns because they were our home team, not necessarily because they were any good. i have vague memories of the early-mid '90s browns. I remember them beating the Pats in the playoffs, i remember Eric Metcalf returning kicks, and i remember a quarterback by the name of testeverde. but the following 10 years were very depressing. i was close to switching allegiances to another team, the browns had done nothing to better themselves. But today is a good day. the browns have arguably the best O-line in the game, we have an older but established, hard nose RB, we have WRs and TEs to take the pressure off of Jamal so teams cant overload the D line. And best of all, we have a quarterback who wins. We may even have 2! i've listened to the radio almost every day since last season ended and i cant believe that the same desperate fans who clamored for a good QB all these years are in such agreement to trade away the only proven one on our roster, DA. the steve young example is perfect. i had no idea he was that old. lets all remember that Brady Quinn has this to hang his hat on...his notre dame rep', a few 4th quarter drives against the 3RD and 4TH STRINGERS in PRESEASON, and this career stat line: 3 completions, 45 yds passing, and 5 incompletions. seriously browns fans, think rationally. you cant give the team to him yet. theres no factual evidence that he will be equally successful. if we wanna hear bad ideas and listen to men with half a brian spit nonsense we'll watch Around the Horn or listen to Skip Bayless. Focker-OUT
Cant wait for the football season to start. DA earned his spot, and Brady can wait his turn. He def. needs to learn the ropes of NFL football more before we throw him into the starting position. I would rather have 2 good QB's than 1!
Hope not but I think DA, as you call him, is a "Flash in the Pan" He can go vertical if necessary but is week on the out patterns which is what you need to survive in the "League" In addition, this offense in particular, will take the proverbial pipe without that aspect of the game.
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